Reporter

Royal & Derngate in Northampton has been awarded £144,352 to help train disability and Black minority ethnic leaders gain senior roles.

The money was granted by Arts Council England for the theatre to host a training placement with a bursary for Andrew Miller, currently head of creative programming at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Northamptonshire Arts Management Trust, which runs the Royal & Derngate and The Core at Corby Cube, is one of 20 organisations nationally to receive a share of £2.57 million from the programme.

The investment is aimed at supporting disabled and Black minority ethnic leaders from across the country to gain the relevant experience, knowledge, skills and confidence needed to compete for Artistic Director, Chief Executive or other senior leadership positions in the future.

The bursary will support Andrew to undertake a 12 month training placement as an Executive Associate at Royal & Derngate and The Core at Corby Cube, offering him significant leadership experience and opportunities.

"His expertise and influence will mean that we continue to deliver our ambitious programme of work over the coming year, ensuring that Royal & Derngate and The Core at Corby Cube continue to be theatres that are open to everyone.”

Andrew Miller said: “Making change has been a continuous component of my career in both the arts and broadcasting, so I am delighted to become one of Arts Council England’s first Change Makers.

"I applaud the Arts Council’s bold move in taking positive action through this innovative funding programme to address the paucity of BAME and disabled voices at the top end of our cultural infrastructure.

"I’m excited about working with the dynamic teams at Royal & Derngate and The Core at Corby Cube - a powerhouse of regional theatre - on a range of strategic initiatives to benefit audiences in Northamptonshire. I am also grateful for their visionary commitment to this Change Maker programme.”